Mater Dei Hospital sues for dead man's costs

MATER DEI Hospital is suing a Bulawayo man for more than $10 000 for medical expenses incurred by his late relative during his admission at the hospital.

The debt emanates from medical services and drugs supplied to Mr Khairunnisa Abass by Mater Dei Hospital between January and March this year.

In papers before the Bulawayo High Court, Mater Dei Hospital cited the Estate of the late Mr Abass, the guarantor Mr Yasin Mullaji and the Assistant Master of the High Court as defendants.

Mr Mullaji was cited as the second defendant by virtue of binding himself as a surety for the medical bills.

The late Mr Abass was admitted to the Roman Catholic-run hospital after he was diagnosed with an ailment which was not mentioned in the court papers.

According to court papers, the hospital is owed $10 359 for services rendered and drugs supplied to the late patient.

Mater Dei Hospital through its lawyers, Coghlan and Welsh Legal Practitioners said that despite having been given terms and time to pay, the defendants failed to settle the bill.

According to the hospital's terms and conditions which were agreed upon between Mr Mullaji and the hospital, the money for the late Mr Abass' treatment was to be payable upon presentation of the account by the hospital.

Lawyers also stated that in the event that the hospital instituted legal proceedings against the defendants for the recovery of the amount due, or any balance thereof, Mullaji undertook to pay the legal costs on attorney-client scale.

Mater Dei Hospital is claiming the money with an interest calculated from August 3 this year to the date of final payment and the cost of suit at attorney-client scale.